Stephen Smith's rollercoaster life of crime, drugs, drink and despair may not be the typical Tinsel Town story.

He describes it as a "20 year drug and drink horror trip from riches to insanity in the gutter" - and puts it down to chance encounters.

Stephen was born London's suburbia and went to a grammar school.

Aged 14, he was caught reenacting his hero Robin Hood's escapades. To avoid a family criminal record his father persuaded the court to send him for medical reports but instead of a youth prison he was detained in an asylum.

After meeting an aristocratic jewel thief, he met up with the Kray twins and fell into organised crime.

Stephen was the getaway driver on a big London bank heist and soon drugs took over his life.

He suffered a breakdown and was admitted to a psychiatric hospital before beginning a five-year period of living rough.

Eventually Stephen met a German student who became his salvation. Now 61 he is married with a family, and lives in Sloane Square, Chelsea.